[UK-CONTEST] AFS CW

[Gerard Lynch]

Well, up from 150 to 196 this year (61/58/34/43) with the IC7400 barefoot as 
usual and a new aerial - a doublet (cut to half wave on 80 CW) well above 
the roof in a slight inverted vee with the apex at 37m or so agl, which was 
put up yesterday.  I'm pushing it a bit fine with this one as it's held up 
by three of G3CWI's roach poles (6.7m or so each) and is *very* visible from 
the ground, so hoping I don't get any aggro about it from Westminster.

Seems to have done a lot for my signal but sadly nothing for the 
intermittent 80m QRN which continues to be S9+ any time anyone uses the 
lift.  With 80 flats in this block that's often... why can't the neighbours 
stay in on a damp, miserable winter afternoon like this?!?!?!  Apologies to 
those I alligatorised in the process.  As a result I spent too much time 
hunting and pouncing at crappy rates (especially late in the 16Z hour) and 
not enough time CQing.  Also picked up the trick of progressively QRSing 
through the contest to pick up new layers of stations.  There's more to this 
contest than meets the eye!

Grabbed 3.510 for the first 75 mins, then S&Ped more or less solidly until 
1720, before finishing on 3.568 for the last 40 minutes.  No DX, not beyond 
LY anyway.

Wonder what a 'competitive' score for 100W in this contest is... no point 
comparing oneself with the people using 400 Watts (ahem!).

73

Gerry G0RTN
Vanity Page at http://www.gerrylynch.co.uk
"In days of old, when ops were bold, and sidebands not invented,
The word would pass, by pounding brass, and all were well contented."